Lightning-arrester.



E., 0. SCHWEITZER & N. J. CONRAD.

LIGHTNING ARRESTER. APPLICATION FILED 007. 18, 19:7.

Patentd Apr. 29,1919.

E. O. SCHWEH'ZER & N. J. CONRAD.

LIGHTNING ARRESTER.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. l8. m7.

Patented Apr. 29, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 iisturb distu manufacture of these parts. A sheet metal spring terminal socket 6, which is adapted to make contact with one end of the, resist ance element 7 is fastened as by means of the rivet 8 to the head or disk 3 with the bare end of the wire 5 clamped between these parts. The head 3 and the upper end of the tube 1 are covered by a cap member 10 which ca member is cemented upon the end of. the tufie. To aid the cement in securing a firm hold, grooves 11 are formed on the cap and tube members. It will be noted that the terminal wire 5 enters a groove below the edge of the cap 10 and passes through the walls of the tube 1 at a point within the cap 10. This provides protection against the entry of moisture.

The resistance member 7 may be constructed of any suitable material such resistance elements being now obtainable on the market. The metallic caps 12 and 13 upon the ends of the resistance rod 7 form terminals coiiperating with suitable socket terminals 6 and 14; respectively. The socket terminal 14, which is similar to the terminal 6, is connected to and mounted upon an electrode member 15 which projects into the upper one of a series of blocks 17. The block 17 may be made of any suitable insulating material, such as lava, porcelain, asbestos, or any suitable molded compound, the chief desideratum being that the blocks 17 shall be able to withstand the heat created by the lightning discharge without excessive damage. The blocks 17 are cubical in'c0n figuration and are of a size such that they will just nicely fit within the bore of the tube 1, as is shown in Fig. 3. In one face of each cubical block 17 there is formed a cavity 18 either molded inor formed as by means of drilling. The cavity is extended beyond the center of the cube to form a small air compartment 19 back of the. electrodes 20 and 21, which project into each cavity 18. Metallic electrode members 22 in the formof small elongated cylinders having collars at the center extend from one side of a cavity 18 in one block to the other side of a cavity in the otherblock, sothat the opposite ends 20 and-21 form terminals in ad acent openings in the block 17. The collar formed on the'electrode member at its center prevent movement to the electnode member with respect to the adjacent blocks. The collar preferably rests in a counter nk opening in the adjacent faces-of the bloc to permit the blocks to have their adjacent faces in contact, although this is not necessary. The blocks 17 may be arranged as shown in Fig. 1 with their openings 18 all left open as desired. The wlre 27 is con-1 nectedto ground. The openings where the wires 5 and 27 enter the device are sealed with suitable compound.

The operation of the device above de-' scribed is as follows:

When an undue potential exists on the line the space between the electrodes 20 and 21 is broken down and sparks or arcs are formed at the gaps between said electrodes. These electrodes are formed of non-arcing metal which is well known in the art, tending to suppress the arcs after they are formed. 'We do not depend solely upon the non-arcing character of the metal as we I have provided blow-out means for each gap. The chamber 19 back of the electrodes 20-21 contain ainwhich upon the initiation of a spark at the corresponding gap, is heated up suddenly and as it expands it blows outward through the gap, thus tending to ex-v tinguish the arc. The resistance/rod 7 lin its the rate of discharge and limits the flow of current in case of unforeseen failure of the gaps 2021.

In Figs. 4 and owe have illustrated a modified form of the device'employing eylindrical blocks having flat side faces 31. Each block has a cavity 18 as described in connection with the blocks 17 and the double ended electrode members 22 are employed to form spark gaps in the cavities as previously described. The blocks 30 have holes 32 arranged on opposite sides on the ends and pins 33 are set in these holes to keep the blocks in alinementf The blocks are set with the openings 18 facing alternately in opposite directions. This arrangement of the openings provides a maximum arc over distance between openings.

The operation of this form is substantially the same as described in connection with Figs. 1. 2 and 3. With the blocks 30 a resistance rod 7 is included in the same mannor as shown in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 we have illustrated a modified form of our invention. In this structure a plurality of paths having multi-v ..Radial slots are then cut in' the web between the. holes (33fi of a depth sufiicicnt to reof ncnsrcing sheet metal.

ceive the shank 37 of the double ended electrode members 38. r

i The electrode members 38 are provided with heads 39 at each end. each head being formed with an arcuate face 40. Theseele trode members 38 are placed"within the slots and the heads are formed so as to it within the adjacent walls of the openings 'ilfi'and lie substantiallv flush with the surface of the block 35. At the center a comto the heads 39 of the electrode members 38 formed integral therewith and extending in the line or the grooves previously described.

The outermost electrode members 43 project out and are electrically connected to a band or circular joining piece 44 having ears 45 extending upwardly under the screws 4:6. The wire 4:7 whichforms a terminal connested to ground is'connected on its inner end to said band or connecting member 44. The members 41, 38 and 43 are stamped out A cover plate member 48 having rows of openings 49 registering with the openings 36 is secured over the lower face of the block 35 to hold the electrode members in position and to form ccntinuations,oithochambers 36. A central screw bolt 50 is connected to the central electrode lei and is connected at its outer end to a cup shaped terminal 51. The cover plate 48 is fastened to the block 35 by screws placed in the quarters between the rows of holes 3M9. A casing or shell 52 surrounds the. block 35 and the cover plate 48 and has a conical. portion 53 extending downward. Ati'ts lower'end the conical portion 53 sup ports a terminal clip or socket 54 connected to the wire 55 which runs to line. the terminals 51 and 55 is connected the resistance'rodfifi, which is similar to the rod 7 as shown in Fig. 1. The upper part of thebloclr 35 and the casing 52 is covered by a cap member: 57 which. is secured in. place by means of the screws 46 sin-(58, Suitable supporting ears or lugs 59 are connected to the casing 52 and provide suitable neans for supporting the device on a crossarm or on the Wall or the like. In the lower end of the conical member 53 a plug of insulation 60 closes the cadet the casing and supports the socket 54.. The wire 55 enters through the plug 60. The ground Wire 47 enters the-"casing by means of a. plug of insulation 63. The openings through these plugs and about the wires PT-55 maybe scaled by compound, as may also the other parts of the device.

' Instead of employing separate blocks 35 and 48, the electrode members may be Between made of metal and in that event the wire 47 may be attached either to the lugs 59 or directly to the casing 52-413, as desired,

It is to be noted that in this form the chamber 36 which lies back of the spark gap has communication with the outside openings 49 to a more restricted space than in the extinguish the arcs independently of the blow-out efiect.

\Ve do not mtend to be hunted to the use of the novel torm of spark gap structure in series with a resistance as the same may be,

employed in any situation found desirable. We contemplate the use'of the spark gaps for general protective purposes.

While the device is preferably supported 7 in vertical position. as shown in Fig. l, we contemplatc'placing the arresters shown in Figs. 1 to 5 m a horizontal position so that if either end of the casing breaks oil-the wire and the corresponding end will drop,

down and open the circuit still farther. 7

life do not intend to be limited to the details of construction shown and d'escribed' W'e claim: 1. In a protective device. a. block having an open recess therein, said recess having a chamber back of the pins, and cylindrical pins projecting through the. sides of the block into said recess, said pins having shoulders of larger diameter than the pins. said shoulders being set in recesses in the sides of the block, said shoulders serving to space the ends of the pins apart to forui a fixed spark gap.

2. In a protective device, a pair of blocks v having flat end Faces, a lateral recess in each block. a common electrode member projectmg through the adjacent end face of each block into the chambers and other electrode members projecting into the recesses in the blocks to form spark gaps with the common elect-rode member.

3. In a protective device, a pair of blocks havingengaging endiaces, a lateral recess in each block, a common electrode member projecting through the end faces of each block into the recessesand other electrode members projecting into the recesses in the block to form spark gaps with the conunon electrode member, said common electrode -member having integral means for preven ing displacement with respect to both of said blocks. r i

4:.- In a. protective device, a pair of blocks having adjacent end faces, a. lateral recess in each block, a common electrode member projecting through the end face of each block into the recess therein, other electrode members projecting into the recesses the blocks to form spark gaps with the common electrode member, and means for holding the blocks against rotary displacement.

5. In combination, a plurality of double ended metallic electrode members and insulating means supporting said members end to end with spark gaps between them, said insulatingmeans providing chambers back of said spark gap and outlets in front of said spark gap, said electrode members having lateral projections to space the electrodes accurately With respect to said chambers and each other.

6. In combination, a plurality of double ended metallic electrode members and insu-'.

lating means supporting said members end to end with spark gaps between them, said insulating means providing chambers back of said spark gap and outlets in front of said spark gap, said electrode members having enlarged portions preventing endwise movement of the same in the insulating means.

7 In a protective device, a tubular sleeveof insulation, a metallic plate having centering means projectinginto the bore of the tube for centering the plate in one-end of the tube, a, socket terminal member connected to said plate, a resistance rod Within the sleeve engaging the socket, a cap member for the sleeve and a terminal Wire passing into the sleeve under the cap and connecting with said terminal member. i

8. In a protective device, a'tubular sleeve of insulation, a metallic plate having centering means projecting into the bore of the tube at one end thereof, a socket terminal member connected to said plate, a resistance rod within the sleeve engaging the socket, a plurality of spark gaps connected in series with the resistance rod, a cap member for the sleeve, and a terminal Wire passing into the sleeve under the cap with said terminal 'member;

and connecting 9. In combination, a sleeve of insulation, a socket terminal in one end ofthesleeve, a closure for said end, a resistance rod having one end engaging said socket, a block fitting into the tubes, a lateral recess in said blocks, said blocks having an electrode member projecting through the end of the blocks into said recess, said electrode member having a shoulder resting upon the block and a terminal socket for the adjacent end of the resistance rod secured to said electrode, 10. In combination, a sleeve of'insulation,

a socket terminal in one end of the sleeve, a closure for said end, a resistance rod one end adjacent said socket, a plurality oi blocks fitting into the tube, lateral recesses in said blocks, the blocks adjacent the other endof the rod having an electrode member projecting through the end of the block into the corresponding recess, said electrode member having a shoulder resting upon the block, a terminal socket for the adjacent end of the resistance rod secured to said electrode, other electrode members projecting into the recesses of adjacent blocks to form spark gaps, and an electrode member projectinginto the recess of the remote block, said latter electrode member being connected to a terminal wire and having a shoulder I for engaging the adjacent blocks.

11. In combination, a pair of prismatic blocks having lateral recesses extending beyond the axis of the blocks, axial bores being formed through said blocks, a double ended cylindrical pin forming an electrode project ing through said bores into said recesses, said electrode having an enlargement at the center thereof, one of the blocks haying a counter-bore on the side facing the other block, adapted to receive the enlargement on the electrode.

In Witness whereof, We hereunto subscribe our znames this 13th day of ()ctober, A. D. 191

EDMUND o. scnwmrznn. NICHOLAS J. CONRAD. 

